Writing Buddies, 27 May 2011

The Southampton Writing Buddies met at The Art House Café on 27 May to celebrate their 2^nd anniversary and welcomed Janice, Jane and Dan to the group.

Richard is a member of the Totton branch of U3A (University of the Third Age) and edits the magazine. He also runs a discussion group.

Elizabeth is still working on her second assignment for The Writers Bureau which she hopes to complete and send to her tutor by the end of next week.

Jimmy successfully launched his book and his website www.aloejimmy.com blog spot should be up and running in a short while. He will be book signing at the Above Bar branch of Waterstones on Saturday 11 June from 11.30am – 3.00pm.

Tessa brought along the first book she has published through her company, The Thorn Press, for Andrew P. Jones. The title of the book is INKTASTIC and there will be a book launch and art display at Southampton City College on Monday 20 June from 5.00pm – 9.00pm. The Echo is writing an article on him. Tessa's third book of The Dohlen Inheritance trilogy will be out in July.

Jacqueline has finished the first draft of her children’s book and following a critique she finds she has to re-write it. Jacqueline won a set of saucepans as her prize for the star letter in the June edition of Sainsbury's magazine. The sleep article Jacqueline was writing for Yours magazine has now been completed. The magazine requested Jacqueline to include the health aspect and this she has done. Jacqueline continues to review books see www.chicklit.co.uk – she reads one manuscript a month and having read five for no payment she has been paid £10 for reviewing the next book.

Veronica writes poetry and informed the group about Amnesty International's 50th birthday party. She also mentioned Bully Boy at the Nuffield Theatre.

Tony writes about local history and brought two of his books with him. He informed the group that he was surprised that the publishers had changed the title by just one word. The History Press are still sourcing illustrations and he is currently submitting a story of the Battle of Wilton to a magazine.

Dan, new to the group, is studying law and currently writing a science fiction fantasy book. He has sent a draft to a literary consultant and received a reply back and is now working at improving it. He feels he has enough to write three books.

Janice noticed the Art Café window display advertising The Writing Buddies and was interested in what the group were about. She writes poetry and has done since school. She would like to write a book and is hoping her artistic niece will be able to illustrate it.

Jane was also attracted to the group by the window display and has written about her travels. She is not sure which direction to take yet with this.

Laurel continues to enter competitions with her short stories.

Mo visited Lisbon and had a great time. She received an email from an American Director and they met for lunch. He wants her to write her character Shindig, into his writing. The Sanctum Club asked her for 50 books to sell. Mo is currently writing her third novel.

Monica is working on a children’s novel. The author, Nik Morton, looked at it, gave her some valued suggestions and she has enlisted a 10 year old to read it. Monica mentioned that a friend has just published through Kindle and found it an easy experience. She is working on her third assignment for The Writers Bureau and has had one article published in a small local magazine.

Penny has finished The Writing Buddies anthology and it is set to be published in September 2011. She is about to sign two more book contracts for The History Press. She is to write Eastleigh: Then and Now, with publication towards the end of 2012, so as not to clash with Glen's book, Voices of Eastleigh, which will be published in April 2012. The second contract for Bloody Southampton, will be published in July 2012. Penny will be looking for anything up to WW2 and is hoping for about 30 stories.

Open discussion covered Jane's travelling experiences. Jane sold up in this country and went to New Zealand for a year to trace her family history. She found family members that she had not seen for 40 years. Mo mentioned that SWWJ were looking for travel writers and she will forward the information to Jane. Jane mentioned that a publisher is interested but she will need to put all her writing into order first before furthering this.

Penny reminisced about how she and Pam Whittington had started the group two years ago. The first meeting was held at Borders bookshop, when 10 people turned up for the first meeting. The group has grown considerably since then.

A fantastic birthday cake (chocolate, of course) was enjoyed by everyone together with a glass of wine – or two! A good time was had by all.

The next meeting will be on Friday 10 June at 2.00pm.